Watching 1929 silent film 'Evangeline" au plein air at Longfellow House

Monday

Aug 18, 2014 at 8:54 AMAug 18, 2014 at 1:24 PM

Here's a different summer's evening activity: last night the National Park Service gave a free screening of the 1929 silent film 'Evangeline' outdoors on the side lawn at the Longfellow House in Cambridge. Starry stars above and screen stars of the 1920s on the very large inflatable screen made for a good evening. "Do it again next year," the audience said as they departed.

Sue Scheible The Patriot Ledger @sues_ledger

Here's a different summer's evening activity: last night the National Park Service gave a free screening of the 1929 silent film 'Evangeline' outdoors on the side lawn at the Longfellow House -- Washington's Headquarters in Cambridge.

Starry stars above and silent screen stars of the 1920s on the large inflatable screen made for a good evening. "Do it again next year," the audience said as they departed.

The Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters is a National Historic Site on Brattle Street and has a beautiful period garden. The outdoor screening was right behind the garden on the East Lawn.

The 1929 film version of Longfellow's famous poem Evangeline "is the best and most renowned film version of the classic story of lost love by one of America's greatest poets. Dolores del Rio, the legendary Mexican actress, is at her best and most stunning in this tragic tale. The beauty of the cinematography matches that of the story," the National Park Service said in its promotion.

To watch an eight-mute video clip, go to the end of this posting.

Roland Drew plays Gabriel, the love of her life. Director was Edwin Carewe.

I wasn't disappointed. Some people brought a lawn chair, a blanket, and even small picnics for the chance to watch the Longfellow-inspired film on the poet's lawn. The show began at 8 p.m.

In the film, according to one online plot summary:

"In Acadia, now part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, young Evangeline is betrothed to Gabriel. But before their wedding can take place, the British imprison the men and send them into exile with their lands forfeit to the Crown. Evangeline follows the exiled men in hopes of finding her beloved, but even after he and the other Acadians are released in Louisiana, she cannot find him, always arriving at some locale just after he has departed. But she dedicates her life to searching the continent for the man she loves."

You can watch an eight-minute excerpt YouTube video clip of the film. It is from a program Live at the National Gallery, November 2007. Music by Donald Sosin (at the piano). Song "Love Me Forever, Evangeline" credited to Billy Rose and Al Jolson, sung by Joanna Seaton. Part of a tribute to Longfellow with his descendants Layne Longfellow and Ann Hutchinson Guest, speaking and reading poems.